Overview

Should you buy a Cupra Terramar?

The Cupra Terramar is certainly worth considering if you want a mid-size family SUV that looks and feels a bit sportier than the rather straightlaced opposition. There’s much else to like about it, as well. The interior’s spacious and practical, there’s a good mix of power and efficiency available from the engine range, and every model comes well equipped.

The plug-in e-Hybrid models have enough EV driving range to make running them a genuinely low-cost proposition for many people – even though they are the most expensive to buy. Meanwhile, the 265hp TSI petrol version will get you from point-to-point very swiftly with little drama – and little excitement, unfortunately. Still, any Terramar feels sharper to drive than pretty much every other SUV this size.

Overall, for us, the Terramar is rather appealing. It isn’t quite as well-rounded as the VW Tiguan it’s closely related to, but we think it’s much better value for money. There’s a real character to the Terramar, as well. There are many good cars in this area of the market, though, so be sure to check out our latest rundown of the best family SUVs before finalising your shortlist. 

What’s new?

The Cupra Terramar is a racy take on the booming mid-size family SUV market. In keeping with the Spanish marque’s brand identity (it originated as the performance offshoot of Seat), the Terramar offers striking looks inside and out while its makers emphasises precision and sportiness as the key driving characteristics. It’s a little larger than the aging Cupra Ateca, bringing with it the latest Volkswagen Group technology. 

Unlike the firm’s other recent SUVs launches – the Cupra Formentor and Cupra Tavasca – the Terramar is a more traditional SUV that priorities practicality over coupe-like style. However, it’s still lower and sleeker than the current VW Tiguan that shares most of the same underlying components. Consequentially, the Terramar feels cosier in the cabin even though both models have almost identically generous boots. 

Pricing appears close at first glance too, though the Terramar actually comes in a little cheaper than the Tiguan when compared spec-for-spec. If you’re considering both, check the standard equipment levels carefully – in most models, the Cupra is far better equipped than the Volkswagen. 

Other rivals to consider include the excellent Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage, the sector-defining Nissan Qashqai, and the aging but still appealing Ford Kuga. If you want more space, the Skoda Kodiaq – which also uses the same kit of VW Group parts – is well worth investigating. The smaller Skoda Karoq comes highly recommended from us too, but like the Cupra Ateca it’s related to, it’s based on older tech and due for replacement in the near future.

The Terramar is only available with petrol engines – there are no fully electric or diesel versions. The range starts with a 150hp, 1.5-litre mild-hybrid, runs through 2.0-litre TSI petrol engines with 204hp or 265hp, and concludes with 204hp or 272hp versions of the 1.5-litre plug-in hybrid with up to 76 miles of EV range. The 1.5-litre models are front-wheel drive, the 2.0-litre cars come with 4-Drive all-wheel drive. All models have a DSG dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

There are four core trim and equipment packages split into two groups. V models emphasise comfort, VZ look and feel sportier. Each group has two numbered levels – 1 and 2 – the number corresponding to how much standard equipment they have. There are two highly-specced special editions, as well – VZ First Edition and America’s Cup Edition

We have driven a spread of Cupra Terramar models and we’re currently running a top-spec 265hp VZ2 as a long-termer. Over the next few pages we’ll take you through every aspect of the Terramar to see how it fares against the best SUVs. We’ll consider its practicality and safety, its interior and comfort, and explain what we think about how it drives. You can find out more about how we test cars at Parkers if you want, or click the links below to keep reading.